Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (NIV) (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)

In 1912 an auto club painted telephone poles white from Iowa border to border, designating a straighter, shorter and more level travel route from Davenport to Council Bluffs. An added bonus was passing through an Iowa town every 5-6 miles along the way. Then in 1965 a shorter and faster route --"I-80" --  opened, making this beautiful route instantly obsolete. Don't dispair! History comes to life again. The poles have now been repainted white along a 26 mile segment between Dexter and Adair and appropriately named WHITE POLE ROAD.

Views of a Farm Boy--Dedicated to promote Iowa agriculture and Iowa values

Robert Vaughn--Urbandale, Iowa  EMAIL:   vaughnrobert@me.com

Dexter: Left to Right - A building in downtown, these two guys are protecting Dexter City Hall and Fire Station, a local chuch, a monument to President Harry Truman's visit to National Plowing Match in 1948, water tower, roadside granite marker recognizing two other early day visitors (1933)--Bonnie and Clyde, Roundhouse Community Center built in 1916--now on NRHP,  and a stop at the famous Drew's Chocolates before leaving town. They recommend filling your life journey  with joy by filling your tummy with chocolate.  I did just that!

Stuart: Our first segment of the White Pole Road takes us to Stuart, where we are greeted by Hotel Stuart with water tower in background and then on to Historic All Saints Building. This beautiful building was a former Catholic Church--now restored and home to the Saints Center for Arts. It is also on NRHP.

Menlo: This beautiful old barn with its own white pole takes us to our next town, Menlo. Here we are greeted by the friendly Gas Station Man. This service station guy in a nice blue uniform, outlined with neon lights made me smile. However, the building really needs a little loving care. On second thought, I don't think it should be touched, because it is such a great tribute to days gone by.

Casey; On the road again! Here we are in Casey. My favorite stop there was Ray "Bubba"Sorensen's patriotic wall mural in a main street mini park.

Adair: The end of the journey is Adair Main Street. I was tempted to check out a book when I saw this downtown library. The Evolution of Flags displayed along Main Street is dedicated to the heroes and victims of 9/11. I think this scene typifies small town Iowa. I hope you have enjoyed our trip down the WHITE POLE ROAD.

My View for the Month: Today was a good day. I started my 26 mile journey with a "chocolate breakfast" at Dexter (left). Then I ended my adventure with a smile as I looked at the "smiley face" on the water tower in Adair (right). I hope this bit of Iowa history will be preserved for future generations as they enjoy a daytrip down WHITE POLE ROAD.